Earth working and planting apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An earth working and planting apparatus for use in conservation of rainfall in semi-arid agricultural areas is disclosed which includes a mobile frame pulled by a prime mover with discs and planters arranged in a manner to cultivate the soil to form furrows with spaced interruptions on dams resulting in a series of pockets or traps to prevent errosion and in case of rain to hold water until it is absorbed by the soil and to plant seed in a plurality of rows in the beds between the pocket furrows as the pocketing and planting is performed. Planting water and preemergence spray may be delivered to the ground surface to aid and stimulate growth from the deposited seeds.

United States Patent [1 1 Smith et al.

[ 11 3,744,441 1 July 10, 1973 EARTH WORKING AND PLANTING APPARATUS ANDMETHOD [76] Inventors: Donald D. Smith; Richard J.

ODowd, both of c/o Ace Industries, PO. Box 353, Colby, Kans. 677011,113,241 10/1914 Niesz ..172/604X lll/l 3,643,442 2/1970 Houston2,949,871 8/1960 Finn 1,060,280 4/1913 Ols0n..... 172/604 X [5 7]ABSTRACT An earth working and planting apparatus for use in conservationof rainfall in semi-arid agricultural areas is disclosed which includesa mobile frame pulled by a prime mover with discs and planters arrangedin a manner to cultivate the soil to form furrows with spacedinterruptions on dams resulting in a series of pockets or traps toprevent errosion and in case of rain to hold water until it' is absorbedby the soil and to plant seed in a plurality of rows in the beds betweenthe pocket furrows as the pocketing and planting is performed. Plantingwater and pre-emerge'nce spray may be delivered to the ground surface toaid and stimulate'growth from the deposited seeds.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmiuwu 3074.41

INVENTOR. Dona/o 0. Sign?!) Richard I 0Dowd o ATTORNEYS PATENIEDMIOW3.744.441

SHEEI 2 0F 2 10 40 o 25 b9 5 b5 49 o 27 72 O o O 18 2e 28 46 19 as 1 68,7 0 31 KM- J AIRDRNEYS EARTH WORKING AND PLANTING APPARATUS AND METHODThe present invention relates to earth working and planting apparatusand more particularly to an earth working and planting apparatusoperative to prepare a seed bed formed to control and retain run-offwater resulting from rain and melting snow on fields for growing crops,such as grain, cereal, and the like.

There is a tremendous amount of land which could be suitable for cropfarming and which appears to be generally level as compared with hillsand mountains. However, when considered locally, a very large portion ofthe land is rolling country sloping in all directions at random. Longdry spells bake the surface and harden same so that the rate of waterabsorption is quite low. When sudden hard showers do occur, most of thewater runs downhill unchecked and is largely unabsorbed, eventuallyfinding its way into streams and being lost to theland on which it fell.Shallow downhill depressions rapidly become gullies which drain theadjacent land even more rapidly. Frequently snow melts very rapidly andthe water formed thereby is lost in the same way.

Contour plowing is one remedy for this situation, but is hasdisadvantages, more particularly, it is difficult and expensive becausethe contour lines must be maintained with great accuracy with respect toaltitude because furrows which slope continually for any appreciabledistance become water courses during a heavy rain and the water at thelow points overflows and goes downhill making new gullies.

Another remedy is known as pocket or pit digging wherein a multitude oflines or rows of pockets are formed to trap and hold the water runninginto individual pockets to thereby positively trap and retainpractically the entire rainfall with minimum of runoff with minimumdisturbance of soil in preparation of a seed bed or area therebyproviding a field configuration adapted to control and retain runoffwater.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an earthworking and planting apparatus operative to effect a substantialincrease in crop production by stimulating plant growth, particularly insemi-arid agricultural areas; to provide such an apparatus operative toproduce a seed bed configuration effective to stop water runoff and givethe moisture an opportunity to soak into and be absorbed by the soil tosave substantially all water falling on fields thereby making the .wateravailable to stimulate crop growth; to provide such an apparatusoperative to transform nonproductive fields into lush growth of crops;to provide such an apparatus operative to prepare a seed bed havingminiature pits or furrows with spaced dams or dikes forming pocketstherebetween to hold moisture and effect an even distribution of water;to provide such an apparatus effective for planting seed in rowsstraddling or-centered on the rows of pockets; to provide such anapparatus having means thereon for spraying a preemergence weed spray onthe ground surface rearwardly of the earth working and plantingstructure and across the width of the path of said apparatus; to providesuch an apparatus with structure to eject water with seeds duringplanting of same; and to provide such an earth working and plantingapparatus which is durable in construction, positive in operation,economical to manufacture, and particularly well adapted for theproposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an earth working and planting apparatusembodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the earth working and plantingapparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the earth working and plantingapparatus showing lateral positioning of earth working and plantingelements.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of a cutter fordigging a row of longitudinally spaced pits.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the cutter.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the sequence of earth working andplanting operations.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein,however, it is to be understood that the embodiments are merelyexemplary of the invention which may be embodied in many forms that aredifferent from those illustrative embodiments presented herein.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims actually defining the scope of the invention. In this regard itis to be recognized that earth working and planting apparatus inaccordance herewith may be embodied in various forms having variousmobile supports and controls and furthermore that such structures may bevariously actuated, leveled, and adjusted, however, the disclosurehereof is presented only as a representative basis for teaching oneskilled in the art to variously employ the present invention invirtually any appropriate detailed structure.

The reference numeral 1 generally designates an earth working andplanting apparatus for use in conservation of rainfall in agriculturalareas and which includes a mobile frame 2 having discs and plantersarranged in a manner to cultivate the soil to form furrows with spacedinterruptions or dams resulting in a series of pockets or traps toprevent errosion and in case of rain to hold water until it is absorbedby the soil and to plant seed in a plurality of rows in the beds betweenthe pocket furrows as the pocketing and planting is performed. Plantingwater and pre-emergence weed spray may be delivered to the. soil to aidand stimulate plant growth from the deposited seeds.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mobile frame 2 of the earth workingand planting apparatus 1 is pulled by a prime mover 3 to thereby operatea plurality of pit diggers 4 which are operative to form a plurality ofiongitudinally separated water receiving and retaining traps or pits 5and dikes 6 positioned therebe tween arranged in laterally ortransversely spaced rows 7. Planting elements including seed furrowopening devices 8 are operative to open a plurality of seed furrows 9shaped to receive seed from a respective seed dispensing and furrowclosing unit 10. Planting water may be delivered to a seed bed 1 1prepared in" a ground surface 12 after earth working operations to aidplant growth from the deposited seeds.

The mobile frame 2 may be formed in any desired shape, such as generallysquare, rectangular, triangular,

or the like, with suitable members secured together to form a rigidframe movable over the ground surface 12 and providing support for thesoil cultivating and planting elements. The illustrated mobile frame 2includes a front or forward member 13 and a pair of side members 14 and15 secured thereto and extending rearwardly therefrom and a rear member16 extending between and secured to the side members 14 and 15.

The frame 2 has a pluralityof spaced ground engaging wheels 17 formovably supporting the frame 2 and ground or earth working elementsthereon for generally forward movement over the ground surface 12 toprepare the seed bed 11' therein. Raising and lowering of the frame 2 isdesired to selectively move the-groundor earth working elements into andout of soil cultivating or earth working position, therefore, anelongated shaft 18 is rotatably mounted on the frame 2 and has thewheels 17 rotatably mounted thereon and positioned at respectiveopposite ends of the elongated shaft 18. In the illustrated frame, arms19 and 20 depend from adjacent respective opposite ends of the elongatedshaft 18 and each have a suitable axle 21 mounted adjacent a lower endand extending outwardly therefrom for rotatably mounting a respectivewheel 17.

Rotation of the elongated shaft 18 is effective to selectively raise andlower the frame 2 and the soil cultivating or earth working elements ormembers and planting elements thereon. In the illustrated structure, asuitable extensible member-22 has one end thereof pivotally secured tothe forward or front member 13 of the frame 2 and the other end ispivotally connected to an car 23 extending from the elongated shaft 18whereby extension and retraction of the extensible member 22 iseffective to rotate the elongated shaft 18 and the arms 19 and 20 tothereby selectively raise and lower the frame 2 to move the soilcultivating or earth working elements or members and planting elementsinto and out of an earth working and planting position.

The extensible member 22 is illustrated as a hydraulic cylinder having asuitable piston movable therein to extend and retract a piston rod 24 inresponse to communication of a suitable hydraulic fluid to the cylinderadjacent opposite ends thereof. The hydraulic cylinder is connected in aconventional manner, as by suitable hydraulic lines 25 and 26 adjacentrespective opposite ends thereof to a source of hydraulic power, such asa hydraulic pressure system, on the prime mover 3 which is under controlof the operator thereof.

The earth working and planting apparatus may be selfpropelled or pulledby a suitable prime mover. When pulled by a prime mover, the mobileframe 2 includes a tongue structure 27 having a suitable hitch 28mounted on a forward end thereof for effecting connection of the tonguestructure 27 and mobile frame 2 to the prime mover 3. The hitch 28 ispreferably pivotally mounted on a forward end of the tongue structure 27to thereby permit relative movement between the frame 2 and prime mover3.

The pit diggers 4 are mounted on the mobile frame 2 andare operative,when moved over the ground surface 12, to form or dig a plurality oftransversely or laterally spaced rows of longitudinally separated waterreceiving pits with pits in adjacent rows being staggered and to placethe dirt or soil mass from each pit in a dike or dam extendinglongitudinally between a pit and the next pit to be dug to therebydivert rain water into the pits.

In the form of the invention presently preferred, the pitdiggers 4 arebasically cultivator type discs, as later described, each having atleast one cutting portion or cutting edge on the periphery thereof andextending radially farther from the axis than the remaining portion ofthe periphery whereby in rotating rolling motion during forwardtranslation each cultivator disc will alternately dig pits and clear theground surface 12. The cultivator discs or blades are preferablyidentical and are mounted on rotatable shafts arranged in a generallyhorizontal plane and in directions diagonal to the path of travel of themobile frame 2.

In the illustrated structure, a pair of generally horizontal shafts 29and 30 are rotatably mounted on the frame 2 with the shafts 29 and 30extending diagonally to a fore and aft axis of the frame 2 and divergingfrom each other at substantially equal angles to the frame axis. Theillustrated mounting of the shafts 29 and 30 includes forward and rearbrackets 31 and 32 respectively depending from each of the side members14 and 15 for rotatably supporting the shafts 29 and 30 as in suitablebearings (not shown) therein.

The pit diggers 4 are illustrated as a plurality of spaced cutterssecured on each of the shafts 29 and 30 and each of the cutters aredished members having a concave face 33 and one or more cutting portions34 on the periphery thereof with the cutting portions 34v alternatingwith clearance portions 35. In the illustrated structure, each of thecutters is a concavoconvex member having a pair of diametrically opposedcutting portions 34 and diammetrically opposed clearance portions 35therebetween. The cutting portions 34 each have a cutting edge 36 foreffectively penetrating the 'soil.

The cutters are arranged on each of the shafts 29 and 30 in a manner todispose the cutting portions 34 of one cutter in transverse alignmentwith the clearance portions 35 of an adjacent cutter whereby when thecutters are operated over the soil, they function to form the spacedrows 7 each having'alternately spaced interruptions thereby defining aseries of the pits 5 in the form of pockets or traps thereby providingminature pits or reservoirs for retaining therein percipitation and rainwater and also to effect accumulation of soil discharged therein byrelatively high and dry winds.

The pockets or pits 5 are arranged in the rows7 and the dikes 6alternate with and are spaced from the pockets or pits 5 in eachrespective row 7. The cutting portions 34 are of sufficient size tocollect and carry forward a major portion of the mass of materialdisplaced by the respective cutting portion 34 during the pit diggingphase and the cutting portions 34 deposit the respective mass ofmaterial on the ground surface 12 in a line spaced from and parallelwith the line of pockets or pits 4 during a non-digging phase of therespective cutter to thereby produce the dikes 6 extending across a gapfrom one pit to the next in each of the rows 7 and having ends of thedikes overlapping respective ends of adjacent pits 5 to direct runoffwater into the pits 5.

The dikes 6 formed with the cultivator type discs are longitudinallyaligned in rows each adjacent and substantially parallel with therespective rows 7 of pits 5. When planting crops between the rows 7 ofpits 5 and the rows of dikes 6, it is preferred that the dikes 6 beformed within the rows 7 of pits 5 to thereby provide maximum area forseed rows between adjacent rows 7 of pits 5 and dikes 6. Therefore,material to form the dikes 6 must be moved from adjacent and parallelwith the respective pits to a position in alignment therewith and in theillustrated structure, a dished member 37 is positioned adjacent andrearwardly of each of the pit diggers 4. Each of the dished members 37has a concave face 38 thereof positioned to oppose the concave face 33of the respective cultivator type discs.

The planting elements are preferably mounted on the frame 2 in a mannerto permit same to be moved into and out of planting position when thepit diggers 4 and dished members 37 are in earth working position,therefore, the mobile frame 2 has a forward portion 39 and a rearportion 40 with the shafts 29 and 30 and the pit -diggers 4 and thedished members 37 being mounted on the forward portion 39 and the seedfurrow opening devices 8 and the seed dispensing and furrow closing unitbeing mounted on the rear portion 40.

In the illustrated structure, the rear portion 40 is pivotally mountedon the forward portion 39 of the mobile frame 2 and extends rearwardlyof the pit diggers 4 and the dished members 37 to thereby support theplanting elements for movement into and out of planting position.

Arms 41 and 42 extend rearwardly from respective opposite ends of theelongated shaft 18 and have bell cranks 43 and 44 respectively pivotallymounted thereon. The bell cranks 43 and 44 are illustrated as L- shapedmembers each having a generally upwardly directed arm or leg 45 and agenerally rearwardly directed arm or leg 46. The bell cranks 43 and 44are pivotally mounted on the arms 41 and 42 respectively with the pivotpoint being adjacent the intersection of the arms or legs 45 and 46whereby pivoting the bell cranks 43 and 44 about the ends of the arms 41and 42 is effective to raise and lower the rear portion 40 of the mobileframe 2.

Pivotal movement of the bell cranks 43 and 44 is effected by suitableextensible members 47 and 48 respectively, each having one end thereofpivotally mounted on an upper end of the respective upwardly directedarms or legs 45 and the other end pivotally connected to respectivestandards 49 and 50 extending upwardly from the side members 14 andrespectively. The extensible members 47 and 48 are operative byretraction to raise the rear portion 40 of the mobile frame 2 and byextension to lower the same to thereby move planting elements into aseed planting position.

The extensible members 47 and 48 are illustrated as hydraulic cylinderseach having a suitable piston movable therein to extend and retractpiston rods 51 and 52 respectively in response to communication of asuitable hydraulic fluid to the respective cylinder adjacent oppositeends thereof. The hydraulic cylinders are connected in a conventionalmanner by suitable hydraulic lines adjacent respective opposite endsthereof to a source of hydraulic power, such as a hydraulic pressuresystem on the prime mover 3 which is also under control of the operatorthereof. The hydraulic lines communicating with the extensible members47 and 48 are so connected to the source of hydraulic power that therear portion 40 of the mobile frame 2 may be selectively raised andlowered independently of the raising and lowering of the forward portion39 of the mobile frame 2.

The rear portion 40 is illustrated as including front and rear members53 and 54 respectively extending between and suitably supported on andsecured to the rearwardly directed arms or legs 46 of the bell cranks 43and 44 with suitable bracing members 55 extending therebetween tothereby form a substantially rigid structure.

The illustrated planting elements or members include a plurality of theseed furrow opening devices v8 mounted on the rear portion 40 of theframe 2 and movable therewith. The seed furrow opening devices 8 arespaced along the rear member 54 of the rear portion 40 and each includesa plurality of laterally spaced blade-like members 56 each having anelongated cutting edge 57 extending'substantially parallel with the foreand aft axis of the mobile frame 2 and effective to form relativelynarrow slit-like openings or furrows 9 in the ground surface 12 afterthe rows 7 of the pits 5 and dikes 6 are formed therein to therebyprepare the seed bed 11 in preparation for depositing seeds therein.

The cutting edges 57 are positioned to open a pair of laterally spacedseed furrows 9 between adjacent rows 7 of pits 5 whereby each of therows 7 of pits 5 is substantially centered between a pair of seedfurrows 9 thereby providing moisture for plants adjacent and on oppositesides of each row of pits.

Seed dispensing means are mounted on the rear portion 40 and areoperative for depositing seeds in the seed furrows 9. In the illustratedstructure, a seed container 58 is positioned adjacent and above each ofthe blade-like members 56 and includes a suitableseed tube 59 having aplanting shoe 60 on a lower end thereof with each planting shoe 60 beingaligned with a respective cutting edge 57 and positioned rearwardlythereof. The seed containers 58 and the respective tube 59 and plantingshoe 60 are operative to deposit seeds in selected longitudinal spacingalong the respective seed furrow 9 with the seeds being precisely spacedand positioned in the seed furrow, as for example having the crownthereof upwardly directed.

The illustrated seed dispensing and furrow closing units 10 each includea press wheel 61 and travel of the press wheel 61 along the groundsurface 12 is operative to close the respective seed furrow 9 and toeffect the movement of seed from the respective container 58 and throughthe tube 59 and planting shoe 60 into the respective seed furrow 9, forexample, through suitable sprockets mounted on the press wheel and aseed dispensing device mounted on the seed container and a chainextending therebetween. There is a press wheel 61 for each seed furrow 9with the press wheel 61 being operative to close the respective seedfurrow 9 and cover the seed therein and pack soil around the seedswhereby the press wheels 61 each trail in alignment with respectiveplanting shoes 60 to aid in covering and pressing the soil around theseeds.

Placing water with or on the seeds deposited in the seed furrows 9 hasbeen found to aid germination of the seed and to produce healthy plants,therefore, a liquid reservoir 62 is mounted on the mobile frame 2 andpreferably on the forward portion 39 and is adapted to contain a supplyof planting watenThe planting water is conveyed to a positionrearwardlyv of each planting shoe 60 for ejecting water during orimmediately after depositing of the seeds. A conduit or pipe manifold 63provides communication with the reservoir 62 by a flexible tube 64 and aplurality of tubes 65 are connected to the manifold 63 and arepositioned to have a tube 65 aligned with and trailing each plantingshoe 60. The tubes 65 each have a suitable valve 66 therein forperiodically ejecting water into the respective seed furrow 9 to provideinitial moisture for germination of the respective seeds to thereby aidplant growth from the seeds. The valves 66 are preferably actuated bytravel of the respective press wheels 61 in coordinated operation withplacing or depositing of the seeds in the seed furrows 9, as by asuitable trip mounted on a chain extending between sprockets on eachpress wheel and the respective seed dispensing device or by a cam on theseed dispensing devices.

Control of weed growth in the seed bed 11 has been found to increase thevigor of the selected crop planted therein, therefore, a liquid tank 67is mounted on the mobile frame 2 and is preferably on the forwardportion 39 adjacent the water reservoir 62. The liquid tank 67 isadapted to contain suitable weed control materials, such as apre-emergence weed spray, for application on the ground surface of theseed bed 11 and rearwardly of the furrow closing press wheels 61. in thestructure illustrated, there are a plurality of spray nozzles 68 mountedin laterally spaced-apart relation at the rear of the rear portion 40 ofthe frame 2 to spray the top of the soil across the path of travel ofthe implement with a pre-emergence weed killer after the seeds have beencovered by the press wheels 61.

The spray nozzles 68 are connected by flow lines 69 to the reservoir ortank 67. Each of the flow lines 69 is connected to a suitable headerline 70 communicating with the reservoir or tank 67 through a suitableflexible line or tube 71 to permit the rear portion 40 to be selectivelyraised and lowered. A suitable valve 72 is arranged in each of the flowlines 69 to control the flow therethrough and it is preferred that thevalves 72 each be of a solenoid-actuated type whereby they may beremotely controlled from the prime mover 3 to spray the ground surfaceas the earth working and planting apparatus 1 moves thereover after theseeds are covered by the press wheels 61.

in using an earth working and planting apparatus constructed asdescribed and illustrated, the prime mover 3 pulls or moves the earthworking and planting apparatus 1 to the specific field for transformingsame into a seed bed 11. The extensible member 22 is operated to lowerthe frame 2 and move the pit diggers 4 into earth workihg engagementwith the ground surface of the selected field whereby forward movementof the prime mover 3 effects rotation of the horizontal shafts 29 and 30to alternately move the cutting portions 34 and the clearance portions35 into and over the ground surface 12 respectively with the cuttingportions 34 progressively moving laterally a mass of material displacedfrom each pit as the cutting portions 34 move through the ground surfaceof the field and the mass of material is displaced during the time eachclearance portion 35 is above the ground surface of the field to therebyform or produce a dike 6 spaced from and parallel with the pits 5 andextending across a gap from one pit to the next in each of thetransversely spaced rows 7. The dished members 37 move a portion of thematerial forming the dikes 6 to a position in longitudinal alignmentwith the pits 5 to thereby permit the rows of pits and dikes to bespaced closer together and have a maximum portion of the field availablefor the seed bed 11. After the pit diggers 4 are in proper position, therear portion 40 is moved to a planting position having the blade-likemembers 56 of each of the seed furrow opening devices 8 in position tocut the seed furrows 9 with the press wheels 61 moving along the groundsurface 12 of the field to effect discharge or dis pensing of seed fromthe containers 58 through the planting shoes 60 and to close therespective seed furrow 9. Travel of the press wheels over the groundsurface 12 of the respective field is also operative to activate thevalves 66 to permit planting water to flow from the reservoir 62 throughthe respective tubes 65 and into the seed furrows 9 after the seeds havebeen deposited therein. The valves 72 are opened or activated by theoperator of the prime mover 3 to permit the preemergence weed spray tobe ejected or delivered onto the soil of the seed bed 11 and the pits 5and dikes 6 all rearwardly of the rear portion 40 and the press wheels61.

The finished seed bed 12 provides an area around each of the pits whichslopes toward the respective pit 5 whereby rain and like run-off waterwill enter the pits and be retained therein. The pits 5 are each deepenough that water retained therein penetrates deeply into the soil andprovides moisture for the roots of plants adjacent the pits 5.

it is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described oneform of our invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An earth workingand planting apparatus comprismg:

a. a mobile frame movable over a ground surface;

b. means on said mobile frame for digging longitudinally spaced pits inlaterally spaced rows;

1. said pit digging means comprises at least one elongated shaftrotatably mounted on said mobile frame and having a plurality of spacedcutters secured thereon for rotation therewith;

2. each of said cutters are dished members having a concave face and atleast one cutting portion and one clearance portion alternatelypositioned on the periphery thereof;

3. said elongated shaft and said dished members mounted thereon arepositioned to progressively move laterally a mass of material displacedfrom each pit as said pit digging means moves along the ground surface;

c. means on said mobile frame and spaced from said pit digging means foropening'at least one seed furrow between adjacent rows of pits; and

d. means on said mobile frame and spaced from said seed furrow openingmeans for dispensing seeds in the seed furrows and for closing same overthe seeds.

2. An earth working and planting apparatus as set forth in claim 1including means mounted on said frame and spaced from said pit diggingmeans to collect and carry forward a major portion of the mass ofmaterial as said pit digging means displaces same during the pit diggingphase for depositing said mass on the ground surface in a line during anon-digging phase of said pit digging means to thereby produce a dikeextending across a gap from one pit to the next, said dikes beinglongitudinally aligned with the pits in each of said rows of pits.

3. An earth working and planting apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein:

a. said dike'forming means comprise a dished member adjacent andrearwardly of each of said cutters; and

b. said dished members each have a concave face thereof opposing theconcave face of the respective cutter disc. v

4. An earth working and planting apparatus comprisa. a mobile framemovable over a ground surface and having a fore and aft axis;

b. a pair 'of generally horizontal shafts rotatably mounted on saidmobile frame, said shafts being on opposite sides of the fore and aftaxis of said mobile frame and each extending diagonally thereto anddiverging from each other at substantially equal angles to said frameaxis;

c. means mounted on each of said shafts and movable therewith fordigging longitudinally spaced pits in laterally spaced rows;

d. a plurality of seed furrow opening devices mounted on said frame andpositioned to open a plurality of laterally spaced seed furrows eachsubstantially parallel to the fore and aft axis of said mobile frame,said seed furrow opening devices being positioned to open at least oneseed furrow between adjacent rows of pits;

e. seed dispensing means on said mobile frame and spaced from said seedfurrow opening devices for depositing seeds in the seed furrows;

- f. means on said mobile frame and spaced from said seed dispensingmeans for closing said seed furrows after the seeds are depositedtherein;

g. said mobile frame has a forward portion and a rear portion h. saidrear portion is pivotally mounted on said forward portion for raisingand lowering of said rear portion relative to said forward portion andsaid ground surface;

i. said horizontal shafts and said pit digging means thereon are mountedon said forward portion of said mobile frame;

j. said seed furrow opening devices and said seed dispensing means andsaid seed furrow closing means are mounted on said rear portion of saidmobile frame; and

k. said forward portion and said rear portion of said mobile frame havemeans operatively connected thereto for selectively moving said seedfurrow opening devices and said seed dispensing means and said seedfurrow closing means into and out of a working position.

5. An earth working and planting apparatus as set forth in claim 4including:

a. means mounted on said front portion of the frame for containing asupply of planting water;

b. means communicating with said water containing 1 means and extending'to the rear portion of the frame to adjacent the seed dispensing meansand selectively operable for ejecting water into said seed furrowsduring dispensing of said seeds in said seed furrows;

c. means mounted on said front portion of the frame for containing asupply of pre-emergence weed spray; and

d. means communicating with said weed spray containing means andextending to the rear portion of the frame behind the furrow closingmeans and selectively operable for spraying pre-emergence weed spray onthe ground surface rearwardly of said furrow closing means.

6. A method of earth working and planting comprisa. digginglongitudinally spaced pits in laterally digging of said rows of pitsincludes:

1. displacing a mass of material during digging said pits; 2.progressively moving laterally the mass of material during digging saidpits and positioningthe mass of material between and slopingtoward-adjacent rows of pits; 3. collecting and carrying forward aportion of the mass of material moved laterally; i 4. depositing thecollected portion of the mass of material on the ground surface to beplanted in a line to form a dike extending across each gap from one pitto the next whereby said pits and dikes in each row are longitudinallyaligned; b. opening at least one seed furrow between adjacent rows ofpits; c. depositing seeds in the seed furrows; and d. closing the seedfurrows over seed therein. .7. A method of earth working and plantingasset forth in claim 6 wherein a pair of laterally spaced seed furrowsare opened between adjacent rows of pits after surface after the seedfurrows are closed;

furrows dur-

1. An earth working and planting apparatus comprising: a. a mobile framemovable over a ground surface; b. means on said mobile frame for digginglongitudinally spaced pits in laterally spaced rows;
 1. said pit diggingmeans comprises at least one elongated shaft rotatably mounted on saidmobile frame and having a plurality of spaced cutters secured thereonfor rotation therewith;
 2. each of said cutters are dished membershaving a concave face and at least one cutting portion and one clearanceportion alternately positioned on the periphery thereof;
 3. saidelongated shaft and said dished members mounted thereon are positionedto progressively move laterally a mass of material displaced from eachpit as said pit digging means moves along the ground surface; c. meanson said mobile framE and spaced from said pit digging means for openingat least one seed furrow between adjacent rows of pits; and d. means onsaid mobile frame and spaced from said seed furrow opening means fordispensing seeds in the seed furrows and for closing same over theseeds.
 2. each of said cutters are dished members having a concave faceand at least one cutting portion and one clearance portion alternatelypositioned on the periphery thereof;
 2. An earth working and plantingapparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means mounted on said frameand spaced from said pit digging means to collect and carry forward amajor portion of the mass of material as said pit digging meansdisplaces same during the pit digging phase for depositing said mass onthe ground surface in a line during a non-digging phase of said pitdigging means to thereby produce a dike extending across a gap from onepit to the next, said dikes being longitudinally aligned with the pitsin each of said rows of pits.
 2. progressively moving laterally the massof material during digging said pits and positioning the mass ofmaterial between and sloping toward adjacent rows of pits;
 3. collectingand carrying forward a portion of the mass of material moved laterally;3. An earth working and planting apparatus as set forth in claim 2wherein: a. said dike forming means comprise a dished member adjacentand rearwardly of each of said cutters; and b. said dished members eachhave a concave face thereof opposing the concave face of the respectivecutter disc.
 3. said elongated shaft and said dished members mountedthereon are positioned to progressively move laterally a mass ofmaterial displaced from each pit as said pit digging means moves alongthe ground surface; c. means on said mobile framE and spaced from saidpit digging means for opening at least one seed furrow between adjacentrows of pits; and d. means on said mobile frame and spaced from saidseed furrow opening means for dispensing seeds in the seed furrows andfor closing same over the seeds.
 4. An earth working and plantingapparatus comprising: a. a mobile frame movable over a ground surfaceand having a fore and aft axis; b. a pair of generally horizontal shaftsrotatably mounted on said mobile frame, said shafts being on oppositesides of the fore and aft axis of said mobile frame and each extendingdiagonally thereto and diverging from each other at substantially equalangles to said frame axis; c. means mounted on each of said shafts andmovable therewith for digging longitudinally spaced pits in laterallyspaced rows; d. a plurality of seed furrow opening devices mounted onsaid frame and positioned to open a plurality of laterally spaced seedfurrows each substantially parallel to the fore and aft axis of saidmobile frame, said seed furrow opening devices being positioned to openat least one seed furrow between adjacent rows of pits; e. seeddispensing means on said mobile frame and spaced from said seed furrowopening devices for depositing seeds in the seed furrows; f. means onsaid mobile frame and spaced from said seed dispensing means for closingsaid seed furrows after the seeds are deposited therein; g. said mobileframe has a forward portion and a rear portion; h. said rear portion ispivotally mounted on said forward portion for raising and lowering ofsaid rear portion relative to said forward portion and said groundsurface; i. said horizontal shafts and said pit digging means thereonare mounted on said forward portion of said mobile frame; j. said seedfurrow opening devices and said seed dispensing means and said seedfurrow closing means are mounted on said rear portion of said mobileframe; and k. said forward portion and said rear portion of said mobileframe have means operatively connected thereto for selectively movingsaid seed furrow opening devices and said seed dispensing means and saidseed furrow closing means into and out of a working position. 4.depositing the collected portion of the mass of material on the groundsurface to be planted in a line to form a dike extending across each gapfrom one pit to the next whereby said pits and dikes in each row arelongitudinally aligned; b. opening at least one seed furrow betweenadjacent rows of pits; c. depositing seeds in the seed furrows; and d.closing the seed furrows over seed therein.
 5. An earth working andplanting apparatus as set forth in claim 4 including: a. means mountedon said front portion of the frame for containing a supply of plantingwater; b. means communicating with said water containing means andextending to the rear portion of the frame to adjacent the seeddispensing means and selectively operable for ejecting water into saidseed furrows during dispensing of said seeds in said seed furrows; c.means mounted on said front portion of the frame for containing a supplyof pre-emergence weed spray; and d. means communicating with said weedspray containing means and extending to the rear portion of the framebehind the furrow closing means and selectively operable for sprayingpre-emergence weed spray on the ground surface rearwardly of said furrowclosing means.
 6. A method of earth working and planting comprising: a.digging longitudinally spAced pits in laterally spaced rows in a groundsurface to be planted, said digging of said rows of pits includes:
 7. Amethod of earth working and planting as set forth in claim 6 wherein apair of laterally spaced seed furrows are opened between adjacent rowsof pits after said dikes are formed.
 8. A method of earth working andplanting as set forth in claim 7 and including: a. ejecting plantingwater into the seed furrows during depositing of said seeds in the seedfurrows; b. spraying pre-emergence weed spray on the ground surfaceafter the seed furrows are closed.